Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

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I am glad they re-signed Slava.... I hope he improves on his defense.

He's a big guy, but he's a softie and mostly hangs out on the perimeter, rarely posting up or going hard to the basket for a jam.

Lakers now have 12 guaranteed contracts for next year...but without a commitment from Malone

With Horry just signing again with the Spurs, it looks like Malone will choose b/t Lakers and Heat.

My Guess: LAKERS!

After all, if you are going to break the scoring record, who do you want to do it for: the tradition-rich Lakers? or an expansion team Heat, with the knowledge that if contraction occurs in the future, the Heat will be amongst the candidates?

[minew_m]

He may chose the Heat. He will have an easier time scoring in the East!

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woooohooooooooo!! This just made my weekend (and the month of August)

Lakers trade the cancer Gary Payton, a slow and aging Rick Fox, a lottery protected 1st round draft pick next year (what the hell does this mean?), and some cash to Boston

In return, the Lakers get
7-foot Chris Mihm (wooohooo! a big body, of average to perhaps above average talent),
journeyman Chucky Atkins (average player .. but then again, NBA MVP Chauncey Billups was in this mode before the NBA Finals, lol),
2nd-year Marcus Banks (no clue on this guy; but sports radio ESPN is saying the guy is a good-looking rookie)
future 2nd round draft pick

WOWOWOW- -- WOOOOHOOOOOOOO. I can't believe the Celtics made this move (perhaps it was money-related??)

First, we got rid of Gary Payton, who says he wants to win the title, but whined all last year when he started to lose playing time to Derek Fisher...and the ultimate humiliation - Payton got PLAYED by NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups in the NBA Finals, to the tune of 132 points by Billups to 25-35 points by Payton.

hahahahahahah....good riddance to Gary "me me me me me me me me me" Payton

Second, while Rick Fox served us VERY well during his years here, and was the ultimate teammate, often sacrificing shooting in favor of defense.... he is aging, slow, and his skills are on the decline. We appreciate and remember him for absolutely shutting down Peja during 2000, 2001, 2002 NBA playoffs. I do not believe I've seen anyone totally stop another player one-on-one the way that Fox did to Peja. It was an incredible display of defense.

Of course, it helped that Peja doesn't drive to the basket, lol.

Third, We got a big body. Mihm was a high 1st round draft pick, but never panned out in Boston...but again, we got a big body, and gave up trash in Payton.

Not sure about Marcus Banks; Chucky Atkins is ok, I suppose.

[minew_m]

I think the key in this deal will be Marcus Banks. Mihm already played in the West and struggled. With the Celtics, he did do decent but toward the end of the season was getting less and less minutes. He was okay in the East because there was no height to contend with. Atkins probably won't do much, but will be a great 7th or 8th man off the bench. But Banks was developing well as the season went along. He probably will be able to continue that with the Lakers.

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Originally posted by minew_m
But Banks was developing well as the season went along. He probably will be able to continue that with the Lakers.

The thing that makes you wary is that Banks was a high 1st round pick by Boston just 1 year ago....

and for a team to just give up on someone in 1 year (heck, Kobe had a sub-par rookie year, as did Jermaine O'Neal, and even Kevin Garnett was a tad bit above average; only Lebron and Carmelo have shined) ... perhaps the Celtics know something the Lakers don't when they gave up on Banks


but overall, I am as happy as if I were invited to the Playboy Mansion!!!

[minew_m]

The Celtics really don't know anything when it comes to developing players. A prime example is Joe Johnson. They gave up on him in one year and look how he is doing with the Suns.

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Originally posted by minew_m
The Celtics really don't know anything when it comes to developing players.

lolol...as a Celtics hater, I would agree....

but they do have 16 NBA titles, so you've got to give them the benefit of the doubt.

but the caveat is: Celtics have new corporate owners; I don't think Red Aeurbach is in charge anymore.

I wonder why the Celtics don't have Bird, McHale, Parish, come back and be their GM??

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well, now that I've had some time to read the newspapers today...

I found out what the "conditional 1st round pick" the Lakers are giving to the Celtics mean:

if the Lakers do badly and get into the lottery (top 10 worst teams), the Lakers keep that pick, and instead will give the 2nd round pick to the Celtics....

but if the Lakers make the playoffs, then the Celtics get the 1st round pick

I say the Lakers, with all they've done (and barring Kobe getting injured) will be #5-#8 in the rankings.

If Karl comes back and is healthy through the majority of the season (plays 60+ games), the Lakers could get that #4 seed

[LakersMC]

I just joined SCF this week. (Some of you replied to my Meet & Greet actually.) Glad to see some more Laker diehards out there.

I'm still hoping the Lakers are prep'ing for a Jason Kidd trade. If you look at their roster, there are over 12 guys already (not incl. Malone). I was thinking/hoping that NJ was the team that actually wanted Marcus Banks, but didn't want to deal Kidd to an Eastern Div team. This could be wishful thinking.

Bottom line is I don't think the Lakers are done dealing. Do you?

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Hi Andy - welcome to the club!!!!

Like you, I do not believe the Lakers are done.

They have 15 guys signed for next year (not including Karl Malone).

So, if I were the Lakers, here's my trade bait

Devean George - $5M
Slava - about $3-6M
Marcus Banks - $2M or so
Kareem Rush - $2M or so
Brian Cook (not sure, but he was a rookie last year)
Luke Walton (same as Cook)

The other players, who likely won't be traded:
Kobe - starting guard
Chucky Atkins - starting point guard
Divac - starting center
Mihm- backup center

I am missing 2 players (not including Karl Malone) .... mind going blank......

I think that Atkins may be trade bait if it involves a trade for Jason Kidd.

But, if I were the Lakers, I want to clear cap room for 2007, to go after Yao Ming. We don't need Jason Kidd's $15-20M, as that will hamper us dramatically